Double-action bass-drum pedal



S pt. 16, 1924;

W. D. GLADSTONE ET AL DOUBLE ACTION BASS DRUM PEDAL Filed June 23, 1922 INVENTORJ WILL/AM 0. GLADSTM/E,

4' By 0 EMIL KU/Y,

rid

ATTYS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM DAVID GLADSTONE, OF NEW YORK, AND EMIL KUN, F SPRINGFIELD GARDENS, NEW YORK.

DOUBLE-ACTION BASS-DRUM PEDAL.

Application filed June 28, 1922. Serial No. 571,429.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM- DAVID GLADSTONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York,

and State of New York, and I, EMIL KUN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield Gardens, county of Queens, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double- 1 Action Bass-Drum Pedals, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in foot pedals to be used for playing bassdrums in orchestras or bands, in which strokes may be executed bythe action of both the toe or the heel of the foot; the object of our invention being to enable the performer to execute the fastest passages written for bass-drums with very little effort; second, to make it possible to change the length and therefore the strength of the stroke by simply increasing or decreasing the pressure of the foot on the pedal; and

third, to enable the performer to make the cymbal-beater operative or inoperative in 'unison with the drum-beater by a slight rotation of his foot, without taking same off the pedal.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character in which the return movement of the beater is accomplished without the use of springs for this purpose and as a result thereof avoiding the necessity for the performer having to exert the force required to overcome the spring pres sure, which obviously becomes quite fatiguing to the performer. I Another object is to provide an apparatus of the character set forth in which means are provided to increase the amplitude of the strokes of the beater by exerting a downward pressure of thewhole foot upon the pedal.

Another object is to provide in an apparatus of this character, a pedal which may be actuated by pressure of either the heel or the toe and in which the return movement of the beater is accomplished by a movement of the pedal in the opposite direction to that which executes the beating stroke and in whichthe movement of the pedal which causes the return stroke may be continued to execute another beating stroke.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which will be at all times under the direct positive control of the pedal upon which the performers foot is placed, and which pedal will control not only the beating, but the return strokes as well as the means for rendering the cymbal operative or inoperative.

For the accomplishment of these and such further objects as will hereinafter be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this appertains, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationsmay be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification Fig. I is a side view of the apparatus when the foot is not acting upon same.

Fig. II is a partial side view showing action of the toe-beat (full lines) and of the heel-beat (dotted lines).

Fig. III is a side view showing the increase of the length of the stroke due to a downward pressure of the entire foot on the pedal.

Fig. IV is a partial View looking toward the drum, showing the interconnection of the pedal and cymbal beater mechanism.

Fig. V is a side view on the opposite side to Figs. I, II and III, showing the action of the cymbal beater.

Fig. VI is a partial horizontal section on the line XX of Fig. IV, showing the effect of the slight rotation of the foot piece.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The foot pedal 1, consisting of the toerest 2 and heel-rest 3, is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis on a lever A by means of the pin or bolt 5 in such a way that the foot piece may turn around the bolt 5, but when pressed down by the toe or by the heel it actuates the lever 4 and forces same to swing around the pin 6. upon which the lever i is pivotally mounted. This swinging motion is transmitted through connecting link 7 to the bell crank lever 8, which is connected to a crank lever 9 by a link 10. The crank lever 9 is fixedly mounted upon the end of a beater shaft 11 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing provided in the upper end of standard 18 projecting upwardly from a support 50. Adjustably secured to-a bracket 22 secured to the shaft 11 is a beater arm 13, carrying at its upper end the bass drum beater 12, which is adapted to engage with the drum head 14, diagrammatically indicated by the dot and dash lines in the drawings.

The pivots 6 and 15 upon which the .lever 4 and bell crank lever 8 respectively are pivoted are mounted in a base lever 16 pivoted intermediate its ends as at 17 to a short standard 51 carried by the support 50. The swinging motion of the base lever 16 upon its pivot 17 is limited by the stops 19 and 20 projecting from the side of the standard 18 into the path of movement of the base lever. The base lever is normally urged in a counter clockwise direction by a coil spring which is compressed between a clownwardly projecting lug 52 preferably integral with the base lever, and a reaction piece 53 swivelled to the end of an adjusting screw 54 which passes through a thread ed aperture in a lug projecting from the standard 18. Lug 52 is preferably provided with a small boss 52 projecting therefrom which is encircled by the end coil of spring 30. Any suitable means may be provided to secure the apparatus in fixed position with respect to the drum and maycomprise a clamp 21 secured to the base 50 adapted to engage the rim of the drum.

The shaft 11 is extended to one side beyond the bracket 22 as indicated by the numeral 23, in Fig. IV for the purpose of ac commodating the cymbal beater mechanism. The cymbal which is diagraimnat-ically shown is indicated by the numeral 32 and is adapted to be struck by the beater 31, adjustably mounted upon the upper end of an arm .26 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon the outer end of a stud 24:, the other end. of which is fixed in the bracket 22. The lower end 26 of the arm 26, is angularly nclined with respect to the upper end and is provided with a roller 29 adapted to engage with either of the grooves 28 'or 28 of a slide 28 slidably mounted upon the shaft extension 23. A torsional spring 27 encircles the stud 24 and is arranged to normally urge the arm 26 in a direction to hold the roller 29 in engagement with the slide 28. It will be noted that the groove 28 is of smaller diameter than the groove 28 and when the roller 29 is in engagement with the .60 larger groove as shown in Fig. IV, the arm 26 will be rotated .in a clockwise direction (F e- IV) so that the cymbal beaterwill be in the position (shown in full lines in Fig. V) to strike the cymbal, while when the roller 29 is engaged with the smaller groove 28 the cymbal beater will drop to the dotted line position in which position its stroke will not be suflicient to' reach the cymbal, hence the cymbal beater will be inoperative when roller 29 is engaged with groove 28. Means are provided to move the slide 28 axially along the shaft extension 23 and to thereby set the cymbal beater in operation or out of operation as desired and comprises a shifting lever 25 pivoted as at 25 to the standard 18, the shifting lever having one end engaged within a groove 28 of the slide 28 and having itsother end provided with a yoke 25 between which is engaged a hooked tongue 25 which projects laterally from the foot pedal 1. By referring to Figs. I and II, it will be noted that the weight of beater 12 when in the position shown in Fig.

I will hold the link 10 in alignment with the longer arm of hell crank 8 and as movement of the link 10 in either direction from the position shown in Fig. I to either of the positions shown in Fig. II will move the beater 12 towards the drum head, it will be seen that the arrangement of the link 10 and bell crank 8 will limit the movement of the heater away from the drum. and therefore will limit the amplitude of the stroke.

The operation of the device is as follows:

' The performer places his foot upon the foot pedal 1 and by pressing downwardly upon the toe rest 2 causes the lever 4.1;0 move in a counter clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. I to the position shown in full lines in Fig. II, the lever 4 pushing downwardly through the link, 7 upon the right hand side of the bell crank lever 8 and causing it to rotate in clockwise'direction, thus moving the bell crank lever 8 and link 10 out of alignment and thereby pulling downwardly the crank lever 9, thus causing the shaft 11 to swing the beater 12 into contact with the drum. A slight downward pressure is then given to the heel rest 3. sufficient to move the beater arm 13, past the vertical from which position the beater will drop. until the link 10 and bell crank lever 8 are again in align ment, When the link 10 and bell crank 8 are in alignment, the beater will remain. at rest as further downward movement of the beater is prevented by the alignment of link 10 and bell crank 8i If the performer wishes to execute a beat with the heel, the heel rest 3 is pressed downwardly which will cause the lever 4 to move in a clockwise direction to the dotted line position shown in F ig. II, pulling upwardly upon the link 7 and moving the bell crank lever 8 to the dotted line position, thus again moving the bell crank lever out of alignment with thelink 10, and again swinging the beater into contact with the drum from which position it is moved, by a slight down ward impetus being given to the toe rest 2 ire sufficient to swing the beater arm 13 past the vertical again.

' If it is desired to execute a forte stroke with the beater, the entire foot is pressed downwardly to move the base lever 16 in a clockwise direction against the action of the spring 30 until the base lever contacts with the stop 20, this obviously moves the parts to the position shown in Fig. III and places the beater in position to give its maximum stroke, the operation of the lever 4 and bell crank lever 8 being the same, but of greater amplitude. It will be obvious that the degree of the forte stroke can be controlled by the extent of downward pressure imparted by the foot, and that the movement of the pedal about the pivot 6 can be executed for all positions of the base lever between the stops 19 and 20, as well as at the limits of its movement. It will thus be evident that the amplitude of the stroke, may be altered at any time while the beater is in motion and that it is therefore possible ,to produce a crescendo or decrescendo as desired.

If the cymbal is to be used. the parts being in the position shown in Fig. IV, the actuation of the beater 12 causes a synchronous operation of the cymbal beater because of the connecting stud 24, between the bracket 22 and arm 26. If the cymbal is not to be used, the performer rotates the foot rest 1 upon the vertical pivot 5 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. VI, thereby shifting the slide 28 until the roller 29 engages with the groove 28 in which position of the parts, the cymbal beater can not contact with the cymbal.

The torsion spring 27 causes the roller 29 to be tightly held in engagement with the slide so that it will serve to limit the movement of the slide when moved to either the operative or inoperative position.

While we have shown the spring 30, as a compression spring, it will be obvious that any suitable resilient means could be used to replace the spring 80. All of the apparatus including the base 50 and standard are constructed and arranged to permit them to be folded into a compact form.

It will be obvious that the form or shape of the base 50 may be varied as desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A foot operated bass drumbeating apparatus comprising a foot pedal pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a horizontal axis, a beater, means for swinging said beater into contact with the drum head when said pedal is oscillated in either direction upon its horizontal axis, by the pressure of either the toe or the heel of the performer.

2. A foot operated bass drum beating apparatus comprising a foot pedal pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a horizontal axis, a beater, means connecting said pedal and beater comprising a system of links and levers including a bell crank lever and link adapted when in alignment with each other to limit the movement of said beater away from the drum head and when moved out of alignment to actuate said beater into contact with said drum head.

3. A foot operated bass drum beating apparatus comprising a foot pedal pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a horizontal axis, a beater, and a system of links and levers connecting said pedal and beater and limiting the movement of said beater away from the drum head and to cause said beater to be moved into contact with said drum head when said pedal is oscillated in either direction upon its horizontal axis.

4. A foot pedal operated bass drum beater comprising a foot pedal pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a horizontal axis, a beater and means connecting said foot pedal and beater, said means including means to limit the movement of said beater away from the drum head.

5. A foot operated bass drum beating apparatus comprising a. beater, a foot pedal pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, means interconnecting said heater and foot pedal to cause said beater to be swung into contact with the drum head by movement of said pedal in either direction about its pivot, and to move said beater away from said drum head by a reverse movement of said pedal which reverse movement may be continued to cause said beater to again contact with said drum head.

6. A foot operated bass drum beating apparatus comprising a beater, a footpedal pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, means interconnecting said beater and foot pedal comprising a pivotally connected bell crank lever and a link adapted to normally assume a position approximately central of its range of movement in alignment with one another, said pedal and interconnecting means, when said pedal is actuated about its pivot in either direction by pressure of either the heel or toe to move said bell crank and link out of alignment, produces a stroke of the beater, the return movement of the lever and link to the position approximately central of its range of movement being produced by a reverse movement of the pedal opposite in direction to its initial movement which reverse movement if continued will carry the lever and link past its central position to produce another stroke of the beater.

7. A foot operated bass drum and cymbal beater, comprising a foot pedal pivotally mounted upon a pair of axes extending in different directions, a bass drum beater, a cymbal beater, means connecting said beaters to cause them to move in unison, means connecting said foot pedal and heaters, to

actuate said beaters When said pedal is about the other of said axes.

8. A foot operated bass drum beater comprising a beater, a movable support, a foot pedal mounted upon said support, a system of links and levers mounted upon said movable. support and connecting said foot pedal and heater, said system of links including means to limit'the movement of said beater away fromthe drum head, and means to normally urge said movable support to a position of minimum amplitude of movement of said beater. I

Afoot operated bass drun'i beater comprising a beater, a movable support, a foot pedal mounted upon said support, a system of links and levers mounted upon said movable support and connecting said foot pedal and beater, said system of linksineluding means to limit the movement of said beater away from the drum head and resilient means to normally urge said movable support to a position of minimum amplitude of movement of said beater.

10. A foot operated bass drum beater comprising a beater, a foot pedal and a system of links and levers connecting said foot pedal and beater including means-to limit the movement of said beater away from the drum head and means to permit said foot pedal and system to be moved bodily to increase the amplitude of movement of said beater. a

11. A foot operated bass drum beater comprising a beater, a foot pedal and a system of links and levers connecting said foot pedal and beater including means to limit the movement of said beater away from the drum head, means to permit said foot pedal and system to be moved bodily to increase the amplitude of movement of said heater, and resilient means to normally urge said last named meansto a position of minimum amplitude of movement of said beater.

12. A foot operated bass drum beater comprising a beater, a foot pedal and means connecting said foot pedal and beater comrising a pivotally connected bell crank i ever and link Which when in alignment with eachother limit the movement of said beater away from the drum head, a movable support upon which said pedal and crank arm are mounted, said support When moved by downward bodily displacement of said foot pedal move-s said crank lever and link and permits a greater amplitude of movement of said beater.

13. A foot operated bass drum beater comprising a beater shaft, a beater arm adjustably secured to said shaft, a beater mounted on said arm, a movable support, a bell crank lever mounted on said support, a link pivotally connecting said bell crank lever and beater shaft, a foot pedal pivotally mounted port, and means connecting said bell crank and foot pedal, said bell crank lever and link When in alignment limiting the movement of said beater away from the drum head and when moved out'of alignmentin either direction by the oscillation. of said foot pedal actuating said beater towards said drum head.

14. A foot operated bass drum and cymbal beater comprising a beater shaft, a bass drui'n beater adjustably connected to said intermediate its ends upon said movable supshaft, a pivotally mounted movable support, v

foot pedal to said last mentioned means, ac-

tuated by movement of said foot pedal upon its substantially vertical aXis, and means connecting said foot pedal to said bass drum beater actuated by movement of said pedal upon its horizontal axis.

15. A foot operated bass drumand cymbal beater as set forth in claim 14, in combination with resilient means to urge said movable support about "its pivot and normally hold said pedal in an upper-position;

' 16. A' foot operated bass drum and cymbal beater comprising a beater shaft, a bass drum beater adjustably connected to said shaft, a pivotally mounted support, a foot pedal pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a horizontal. axis and upon a substantially vertical axis, a cymbal beater connected to said bassdr'u m beater to move in unison therewith, resilient means to norfinally urge said cymbal beater to an inopera-- tive position, means mounted upon said heater shaft to. move said cymbal beate against the action of said resilient means to an operative position, means connecting said foot pedal to said last mentioned means, actuated by movement of saiidfoot pedal upon its substantially vertical axis, means connecting said foot pedal to said bass drum beate actuated by movement of said foot pedal upon its horizontal axis, and means to limit the movement of said movable support.

17. A foot operated bass drum and cymbal beater comprising a beater shaft, a bass drum beater adjustably connected to said shaft, a pivotally mounted support, a foot pedal pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a horizontal axis and upon a sub stantially vertical axis, a cymbal beater connected to said bass drum beater to move in unison therewith, resilient means to normally urge said cymbal beater to an inoperative position, means mounted upon said beater shaft to move said cymbal beater against the action of said resilient means to an operative position, means connecting said foot pedal to said last mentioned means, actuated by movement of said footpedal upon its substantially vertical axis, means connecting said foot pedal to said bass drum beater actuated by movement of said foot pedal upon its horizontal axis, part of said last named means being mounted upon said movable support and resilient means for normally urging said movable support to a position in which said beaters will have a minimum amplitude of movement.

18. A foot operated bass drum and cymbal beater as set forth in claim 1", in which said movable support when moved about its pivot against. the action of said resilient means by downward bodily displacement of said foot pedal will move said last named connecting means to increase the amplitude of movement of said heaters.

19. A foot operated bass drum and cymbal beater as set forth in claim 17, in which the the parts permit the operation of said foot pedal about either of its axes for all positions of said movable support.

20. A foot operated bass drum beater comprising a beater, a pivoted double acting pedal and means connecting said beater and pedal, to produce single strokes of the beater,

by ressure of either the heel or toe to move saic pedal in either direction about its pivot.

21. A foot operated bass drum beating apparatus comprising a heater, a foot pedal pivotally mounted intermediate its ends whereby it is adapted to be moved about its pivot by pressure of either the heel or toe, a pair of pivotally connected members adapted to normally lie in a position approximately central of its range of movement in align ment with each other, means connecting one of said pair of pivotally connected members with the beater, whereby said beater will be moved out of contact with the drum head when said members are in said central position, and means connecting said foot pedal with the other of said members whereby said pedal when moved in either direction about its pivot will cause said members to be moved out of said central position to produce a beating stroke of said beater, and the return stroke of said beater will be produced by a reverse movement of. said pedal, which reverse movement may be continued to actuate said pivot-ally connected members through and past said central position to produce another stroke of said beater.

22. A. foot pedal operated bass drum beater comprising a pivotally mounted foot pedal, means connecting said foot pedal and beater, and means to permit the amplitude of the stroke of said beater to be, changed while said heater is in motion.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures.

VILLIAM DAVID GLADSTONE. EMIL KUN. 

